Retiring to Cyprus from the UK and other countries

There are many reasons to choose Cyprus as a place to retire in 2026. Sunny weather, the Mediterranean lifestyle, a safe environment and a friendly atmosphere draw many retirees to Cyprus. In this guide, you will find all the information necessary for a life of retirement in Cyprus.

Weighing it up first? Read the pros and cons of retiring to Cyprus before you start the paperwork.

What visa do I need to retire to Cyprus?

Cyprus has no retirement visa, but non-EU retirees can extend their maximum allowed stay of 90 days with a renewable temporary residence permit, known as the Cyprus Pink Slip, valid for one year. Permanent residency is the other route, through Category F or by investing at least €300,000.

The Pink Slip or the temporary residence permit

The Pink Slip is a visitor permit for people with a stable income from abroad of at least €24,000 a year who will not work in Cyprus. The income needed rises by 20% for a spouse and 15% for each child, and each family member files their own application.

The income is shown by a Cyprus bank account statement with foreign remittances in the applicant's name of at least €2,000 a month, or €24,000 a year, for one person. Transfers abroad or to third parties are not counted. The statement covers the last 12 months at renewal, or the time since the account was opened for a first permit.

For a first permit, a cash transfer or deposit of at least €10,000 is accepted too, and cash needs a declaration at customs.

Documents and renewal

A first permit needs a clean criminal record certificate and medical test results with a chest X-ray. Every application needs health insurance with inpatient and outpatient cover (Plan A).

A first permit needs an original ten-year bank guarantee for repatriation costs, and a renewal needs a copy of it. At renewal, the account balance must not be below €6,000, whatever the size of the family.

The permit runs for one year and is renewed every year. After five years of lawful residence you can apply for long-term resident status, which needs Greek at A2 level and a civics examination.

Category F permanent residence permit

The Category F permanent residence permit is popular among pensioners and retirees. It is granted to applicants who live on a secured annual income from abroad, without having to engage in any business, trade or profession in Cyprus. The applicant's spouse and children under 18 can join under the Category F permit.

In our practice, an applicant who already works in Cyprus signs a statement that they will stop working once the permit is approved, and their work permit ends on approval.

To move to Cyprus under the Category F permit, a retiree must have a secured annual income from abroad of at least €9,568, plus at least €4,613 for each dependant. Pensions, dividends, interest on deposits and rents all count.

That figure is the legal minimum for a Category F permit, not a living budget. For a realistic monthly breakdown of rent, bills, food and transport, see how much money you need to retire in Cyprus.

Permanent residence by investment

You can apply for permanent residency by investing at least €300,000 in a new home bought from a developer (plus VAT), other real estate, shares in a Cyprus company or units in a Cyprus investment fund. The applicant needs a gross annual income of at least €50,000, plus €15,000 for a spouse and €10,000 for each dependent child.

Retirement for European Union citizens

A European Union citizen can live in Cyprus. A retiree who stays longer than three months needs enough money not to rely on social assistance and full sickness insurance cover in Cyprus, and registers with the Migration Department on form MEU1 within four months of arrival. The fee is €20.

Then they will receive the registration certificate for Union citizens, known as the yellow slip.

Can a US citizen retire in Cyprus?

Yes, a US citizen can retire in Cyprus. Options exist for long-term stays through residence permits, such as Category F, which requires a secured income from abroad, or the temporary Pink Slip permit.

Cyprus and the US have a double tax treaty, in force since 1985. The IRS taxes US citizens on their worldwide income wherever they live, so you keep filing US tax returns after the move.

Getting your pension in Cyprus when you retire

Upon retirement, you can receive your state pension into a bank account in Cyprus.

UK pension in Cyprus

You can have your UK pensions paid into a Cyprus bank account. Once you are tax resident in Cyprus, the treaty lets only Cyprus tax them, apart from UK government service pensions (see Tax matters for UK citizens). Each year you choose between a flat 5% on the part above €5,000 and the normal income tax rates, where the first €22,000 is tax-free.

UK private and workplace pensions

A private or workplace pension can remain in the UK and be paid into your Cyprus account, or, in some cases, move to an overseas scheme. Leaving it in the UK is the simpler route, and for most retirees it works well once the tax is arranged. Ask your provider about paying a UK pension abroad, as each scheme sets its own rules.

UK state pension

The UK State Pension can be paid in Cyprus and keeps its yearly increase. GOV.UK says the pension increases each year for people living in the European Economic Area, Gibraltar, Switzerland and countries that have a social security agreement with the UK. It is not increased for retirees living in Canada or New Zealand. The full new State Pension is currently £241.30 a week.

The new State Pension is not paid automatically: you have to claim it. To receive the UK State Pension in Cyprus:

• check that you have paid enough UK National Insurance contributions to qualify;
• claim it from the International Pension Centre once you are within four months of your State Pension age;
• have it paid into a bank in Cyprus, giving the IBAN and BIC, or into a bank or building society in the UK;
• pick one country, because the pension cannot be paid in one country for part of the year and in another for the rest.

The local exchange rate will affect pensions (from pound sterling to local currency).

EU citizens

Your state pension will be paid wherever you live in the European Union (EU). For private schemes, you should discuss the matter with your pension provider.

Social security agreements

Cyprus has bilateral social security agreements with the UK, Egypt, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Serbia and Syria. They protect pension rights built up in both countries, and let benefits from one country's scheme be paid to a person living in the other.

Its older agreements with Greece, Austria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Bulgaria were replaced by EU Regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009, which coordinate social security between EU countries.

Cyprus holds a separate agreement with Quebec, which runs its own pension plan outside the Canada Pension Plan. If you paid into the Quebec Pension Plan rather than the CPP, that is the agreement that applies to your claim.

You can look at the text or summaries of the agreements (English version) to find out what is covered here: Bilateral Agreements - Department of Social Insurance Services of the Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance.

Tax benefits when you retire to Cyprus

There are several tax benefits for pensioners and retirees in Cyprus.

The Ministry of Finance lists double tax treaties with 72 states, 69 of them in force, the UK and the US among them.

See the complete list from the Ministry of Finance here: Double Tax Treaties - gov.cy.

A Cyprus tax resident pays a flat 5% on the part of a pension for services rendered outside Cyprus that is above €5,000. This income is not added to the rest of the person's income. Each tax year you can choose to be taxed on the normal scale instead.

Income that is exempt from income tax in Cyprus, for example:

• Dividends;
• Interest income;
• A lump sum received once as a gratuity on death, or as compensation for death or bodily injury; and,
• Capital sums paid out under life insurance policies and approved provident or pension funds, including a lump sum taken once from commuting a pension, where the premiums or contributions qualified for relief under article 14 of the Income Tax Law.

A gratuity paid ex gratia on retirement is not on this list, because the Income Tax Law counts it as a benefit of employment. From the 2026 tax year, the part of such a gratuity above €200,000 is taxed at a flat 20% and is not added to your other income. The law sets no rate for the first €200,000, and some tax advisers read that part as tax-free.

A lump sum paid out of contributions to a pension or provident fund set up in another EEA state, Switzerland, the UK, Australia, South Africa, the US or Canada is exempt from income tax with the approval of the Tax Commissioner.

Inheritance and gift tax

Cyprus has no inheritance tax and no gift tax, so property passes to your heirs without a tax on the inheritance. A gift of Cyprus property can still count as a disposal for capital gains tax, apart from gifts within the family up to relatives of the third degree.

Defence tax for pensioners?

Pension income does not carry the special defence contribution (SDC). SDC applies to dividends and interest, and only for residents who are domiciled in Cyprus. A retiree whose domicile of origin is outside Cyprus counts as domiciled here only after 17 years of tax residence in the last 20, so their dividends and interest are free of SDC too. Pensions do carry the 2.65% GeSY contribution (see Healthcare and GeSY).

Who is a tax resident of Cyprus, and what is the difference?

When you arrive in Cyprus, you will register with the Ministry of Finance's tax department to receive your tax identification number.

You are a tax resident of Cyprus if:

• 1) you are in Cyprus for more than 183 days in any calendar year; or,
• 2) you spend at least 60 days in Cyprus, spend no more than 183 days in any other single country, carry on a business or work in Cyprus or hold an office, such as a directorship, in a company that is tax resident here through to the end of the year, and keep a permanent home in Cyprus that you own or rent. From 1 January 2026 the rule no longer requires that you are not tax resident anywhere else.

The 60-day rule needs a working tie to Cyprus, so a retiree who neither works here nor sits on the board of a Cyprus company becomes tax resident only by spending more than 183 days here in the calendar year. For all the details on the 60-day rule, please read our article on Cyprus tax residency.

Suppose you are a tax resident of Cyprus. In that case, you will be taxed on your worldwide income (Cyprus has a favourable tax system, see above).

If you are a non-Cyprus tax resident, you will be taxed only on your income from Cyprus, if there is any.

Tax matters for UK citizens

Under the 2018 UK-Cyprus double tax treaty, a pension paid to someone tax resident in Cyprus is taxable only in Cyprus. That covers the UK State Pension and private and workplace pensions.

The treaty text covers pensions and other similar remuneration, apart from government service pensions, and does not mention lump sums. Under Cyprus law, a lump sum paid out of contributions to a pension or provident fund set up in the UK is exempt from income tax with the approval of the Tax Commissioner.

UK government service and NHS pensions

UK government service pensions are the exception and stay taxable only in the UK. These are pensions for service to the UK government or a UK local authority, such as civil service, armed forces, police, local government and most teachers' pensions.

A pensioner who is both a Cypriot national and resident in Cyprus is taxed on them in Cyprus instead.

An NHS pension paid by the NHS Business Services Authority does not count as a government pension under this treaty, so a Cyprus resident is taxed on it in Cyprus, like a private pension.

Returning to the UK

If you return to the UK within five years of leaving, the UK's temporary non-residence rules can tax some of the income and gains you received abroad. See Tax if you return to the UK - GOV.UK.

Once you are UK resident again, you pay UK tax on your UK income and gains, and on foreign income and gains, with relief for those who qualify for Foreign Income and Gains relief. Before 6 April 2025, foreign income might not have been taxed in the UK if your permanent home (domicile) was abroad. If you are taxed twice, you can claim relief.

The rules are complex; the UK government advises contacting HMRC or a professional tax adviser.

Voting rights for retirees

Voting when you retire to Cyprus depends on whether you are an EU national or a third-country national.

If you are an EU national living in Cyprus, you can vote in Cyprus local elections and in European Parliament elections, for candidates standing in Cyprus or in your home country: European elections - europa.eu. National elections in Cyprus are for Cypriot citizens.

British citizens who once lived in the UK can vote in UK Parliament elections no matter how long they have lived abroad. The old 15-year limit ended on 16 January 2024. You register as an overseas voter and renew the registration every three years.

Only Cypriot citizens vote in national elections in Cyprus, so they can vote there after they get Cyprus citizenship.

Voting for British and other non-EU nationals

The rule for Britons in Cyprus after Brexit is the same as that for all third-country nationals. They can vote in local elections only after they get Cypriot citizenship.

If you are a third-country national living permanently in Cyprus, you may ask if you can still vote in elections in your own country and for how long. In such a case, inquire at one of your government ministries or departments.

The law of your own country, not the law of Cyprus, decides whether you keep your vote when you live abroad.

Getting married in Cyprus

Any adult can marry in a civil ceremony in Cyprus.

A civil wedding is available for all citizens, whether Cypriot, EU citizens or third-country nationals.

Marriage in Cyprus for UK citizens

Marriage in Cyprus for UK citizens is recognised in the UK if:

• You followed the rules in the country where you got married; and,
• It would be allowed under UK law (Getting married - GOV.UK).

Here, marriage includes a civil partnership.

The details on who can or cannot get married under UK law are here: Getting married - Citizens Advice.

To get married in a civil ceremony in Cyprus, the applicants should:

• Get in touch and make an appointment with the Marriage Officer of the municipality where they want to marry;
• At the appointment, carry their passports and birth certificates; sign and submit a joint application called "Notice of marriage";
• Make a declaration on oath (or confirm) before the Marriage Officer that there is no impediment to getting married;
• Submit an official certificate showing that they are not already married to someone else (certificate of freedom to marry, or "no impediment", see below). You must present a copy of your finalised divorce order if you are divorced. If you are a widow or a widower, you must present a copy of the certificate of death of your late spouse.

The law has no separate marriage licence step. After the notice, and once the couple have made the declarations and shown the documents that article 8 requires, the Marriage Officer issues a certificate that sets the date and place of the ceremony.

The municipality will give you a date for the ceremony. The ceremony takes place no earlier than 15 days and no later than three months after the notice.

Fees and charges:

• The fee is €128 at the normal date.
• The Marriage Officer may agree to an earlier date under the special procedure, which costs €282. Some municipalities add a charge for Saturday or out-of-hours ceremonies; Limassol charges €130 extra.

The Marriage Officer will forward a certified copy of the marriage certificate to the couple's embassy or embassies (or consulate).

The Marriage Officer will give the couple one certified copy of the certificate; extra copies are issued at €13.65 each, the Ministry of the Interior's fee. Limassol charges €14.

Certificate of no impediment

A certificate of no impediment is a document confirming that the two people are free to marry.

All the details on how to get such a certificate are here: Non Impediment Certificate - gov.cy.

Who needs the certificate and where to get it:

• In Cyprus the Ministry of the Interior issues the certificate to Cypriot citizens and to non-EU nationals living legally in Cyprus. An EU citizen can get one here to marry a Cypriot or a non-EU national. Both applicants apply in person, and the fee is €34.17 for each of them.
• A couple who come to Cyprus as visitors to marry each other do not need a Cypriot certificate.
• A British citizen living in the UK gets a certificate of no impediment from their local register office. The office displays the notice for 28 clear days before issuing it, and the certificate may then need an apostille from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
• EU nationals can obtain the certificate from their country, have it certified and translated into English or Greek, and submit it to the Cypriot authorities using the same application form.

Getting married in a foreign religion in Cyprus

Marriage in a foreign religion can take place in Cyprus if it is performed by a minister of that religion who is registered with the Ministry of the Interior. The Ministry keeps the information in a special register.

The couple must make the necessary arrangements with the minister and the church or temple of their faith/ denomination.

Booking a venue for the wedding

If you wish to book a venue for the wedding reception, schedules are tight, and costs can be high, so you must plan early. This is especially true if you would like to have all the wedding decorations and catering.

The wedding venue for civil ceremonies is usually the Town Hall's wedding venue or other municipal venues.

Making a will in Cyprus

Executing a will can be complex. If you own or plan to own any property in Cyprus, you are advised to make a will here.

For details on how to make a will in Cyprus, read our article Making a will in Cyprus.

Cyprus succession laws

Cyprus law limits what you can leave by will. If you leave a child or a descendant of a child, with or without a spouse, you can dispose of no more than a quarter of the net estate as you wish. If you leave a spouse or a parent but no child or descendant of a child, the limit is half.

No cut is made to a gift to your spouse if you leave no child, no descendant of a child, no father and no mother. If you leave none of these relatives, you can leave everything as you choose.

EU Regulation 650/2012, which applies in Cyprus, lets you choose the law of your nationality to govern your whole succession, even where that country is outside the EU. Our page on Cyprus succession law explains the shares and the choice of law.

Open a bank account in Cyprus

Cypriots, European Union citizens, and third-country nationals can open bank accounts in Cyprus.

The banking system of Cyprus is under the authority of the Central Bank of Cyprus.

For all the details and formalities of opening a bank account in Cyprus, please read our article How to open a bank account in Cyprus.

How to bring your pet to Cyprus

If you retire to Cyprus, bringing a lifelong companion can ease transition stress and help make your new environment feel more like home. The weather in Cyprus is good for animals, and vets and pet shops are everywhere.

Up to five pets can travel with you on one journey.

The animal must be at least 105 days old.

Pets not vaccinated against rabies (rabies vaccination) cannot enter Cyprus. The animal must carry a microchip (see below for the acceptable microchip types).

Pet birds, aquatic fish, rabbits

A pet that cannot travel on an EU pet passport, such as a bird or a rabbit, needs an import permit from the Veterinary Services before it travels.

The Veterinary Services' rules, with the list of species allowed in Cyprus, are here:

Non-Commercial Movement of Pet Animals - moa.gov.cy.

UK citizens bringing other pets to Cyprus

On the UK side, check on GOV.UK whether the animal needs a UK export health certificate:

Get an export health certificate - gov.uk.

Rules for dogs, cats and ferrets

You will need the documents listed below to bring a dog, cat or ferret to Cyprus.

From EU countries

To bring your dog, cat or ferret from the EU to Cyprus, you will need:

• An EU pet passport drawn up under Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 (if it was issued before 29 December 2014, under Decision 2003/803/EC); and,
• a document verifying that the pet has arrived in Cyprus from an EU member state.

The pet passport follows the EU standard model.

From third countries

To bring pets to Cyprus, you need an EU animal health certificate, or a pet passport from a third country that has adopted the EU passport model. An official state vet in the country of departure issues the certificate no more than 10 days before the pet arrives in the EU (europa.eu). From a country not listed in the EU rules, the pet needs a rabies antibody blood test too;

• If the animal has gone from an EU member state to a third country to Cyprus, you will need the EU pet passport mentioned above; and,
• A document verifying that the animal has arrived in Cyprus from the third state mentioned in the health certificate, OR, from the third state to Cyprus but transiting through an EU member state.

If you live in Great Britain, your pet travels on an animal health certificate from a UK vet. A pet passport cannot be used to enter the EU, wherever it was issued (GOV.UK).

Pet arrives in Cyprus

Upon arrival, the pet is checked by a Veterinary officer or a Customs officer on duty.

Suppose the animal is from a third country. In that case, the owner/ person responsible must notify the District Veterinary Officer 48 hours before arrival.

Other details

Regarding pet transport, it is better for the animal to travel in the cabin. Airlines have different policies, so check with them.

Other rules to check:

• The animal must be identified either by a tattoo (before 3 July 2011) or an electronic identification system (transponder microchip complying with ISO standard 11784, for full details, see moa.gov.cy).
• The health certificate is valid for only 10 days. The EU passport has no such restriction.
• "A pet passport is valid for life as long as your pet's rabies vaccination is in date" (europa.eu).
• Guide dogs and other assistance dogs can come in the aircraft cabin with you across the EU.
• For endangered animals, strict rules apply.
• If you travel by sea from a third country with your pet's health certificate, the certificate will be extended to cover the sea voyage.
• Certain dog breeds, such as pit bull terriers, are not allowed to enter.

The website of the Cyprus government animal health and welfare division is Veterinary Services - gov.cy.

Driving in Cyprus

Driving in Cyprus follows the British model: traffic drives on the left.

Most journeys in Cyprus are made by car. In 2024 cars carried 82.8% of inland passenger transport in Cyprus, and buses carried the rest, since Cyprus has no railway. Before you settle in a village or in the mountains, check how often buses reach it.

Traffic signs conform to EU standards, and speed limits are in kilometres per hour.

Motorcycle and moped riders and their passengers must wear crash helmets.

Drink driving is a road traffic offence. The legal limit is 22 micrograms of alcohol per 100 ml of exhaled air, or 50 mg per 100 ml of blood, and lower limits apply to new and professional drivers. A breath reading from 22 to 35 micrograms brings a €125 out-of-court fine and 1 to 3 penalty points. For the levels, see Road Safety Cyprus - gov.cy.

How to get a driving licence recognition in Cyprus

For EU nationals

According to Your Europe (europa.eu), EU nationals moving to another EU country do not have to exchange their driving licence for a local one.

Voluntary exchange of a driving licence

To voluntarily exchange your driving licence, you must be a resident of Cyprus and meet the conditions for having a driving licence in Cyprus. This is called a "voluntary exchange" of a driving licence.

For the details, see below. The procedure is the same for EU nationals and third-country nationals.

Obligatory exchange of driving licence

You must exchange your driving licence if:

• Your licence is lost, damaged or stolen, or
• You have lived in the new country for 2 years, your licence has no expiry date and the national authorities require the exchange; or,
• You commit a traffic offence.

For third-country nationals

If they wish to exchange their driving licence, third-country nationals must make sure that:

• their licence comes from a country whose licences Cyprus recognises under the Road Transport Commissioner's notification; and,
• they have lived in Cyprus for at least 185 days.

Cyprus recognises the licences of all EU countries and of the 22 countries named in the Road Transport Commissioner's notification of January 2021: Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Australia, Switzerland, Zimbabwe, the USA, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, South Korea, Serbia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, China, Morocco, Montenegro and the UK. Holders of licences from these countries must exchange them after a six-month stay in Cyprus.

For licences from outside the EU:

• GOV.UK says that to keep driving after six months in Cyprus you must exchange a UK licence, and you should apply before the six months end.
• A licence issued in Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man cannot be exchanged. Its holder applies for a Cypriot licence as a non-EU national and takes a test.
• For any other country, ask the Road Transport Department whether it is on the list.
• If your country is not on the list, ask the Road Transport Department. You may need to get a Cyprus driver's licence (go through the lessons, practice, and examination).

How to have your driving licence recognised in Cyprus

The rules are the same for EU nationals and nationals of the countries on the notification list.

To have your driver's licence recognised in Cyprus, you need:

• Form TOM 7D, which you complete.
• A recent photograph. For the specifications, see Documents/Procedures on Driving License - mcw.gov.cy.
• A registration certificate for EU nationals or a residence permit for third-country nationals.
• A passport, original and a copy of the first page (applicant's details).
• Your driver's licence, original and a copy. It will be returned to the authorities in your country.
• A translation, if the licence is in a language other than Greek or English. You will get an official translation from the Cyprus Press and Information Office.
• Proof that you have lived in Cyprus for at least 185 days. This proof is your residence permit's original, not a confirmation from the migration department (Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, Circular no. 9/2021, 12 May 2021).

The application and all relevant documents must go to the District Office Driving Examiners. See the contact details here: Road Transport Department - mcw.gov.cy.

How to bring your car to Cyprus

A used car brought from another EU country pays no import duty or VAT in Cyprus once Customs has proof of its EU status. A car from another EU country counts as used when more than six months passed between its first registration and the date you bought it, and it had travelled more than 6,000 kilometres by then.

A car that does not meet both tests is a new car and carries Cyprus VAT, with the exception for people moving here set out below. Customs states that no excise duties are imposed on motor vehicles.

Cars from the UK and other non-EU countries

A car brought from the UK or any other non-EU country pays VAT and import duty, except where Customs grants relief on a transfer of residence. A car from the UK that qualifies as UK or EU origin under the EU-UK trade agreement, with a statement on origin, pays no import duty.

The paperwork takes care, and we can guide you through it step by step.

How to bring your car from the EU to Cyprus

To prove the EU status (EU origin) of a vehicle, you need to show:

A T2L or T2LF document, or the vehicle's number plates and original registration document(s).

The steps are:

1. You should complete the application form to verify the customs status of the union goods.
2. You hand in the form and other documents to the Customs and Excise Department. The form is available on the Customs and Excise Department's website.
3. Complete customs clearance at any District Customs Office within 10 working days of the verification of the car's EU status. For a used car, show Customs the original registration certificate from the previous EU country.
4. Customs needs one more document for a used passenger car: certificate TOM119A on its carbon dioxide emissions, which the Road Transport Department issues when you show it the original registration certificate.

A new car carries VAT, with one exception. If VAT was paid in your member state and you are transferring your usual residence from that member state to Cyprus, no Cyprus VAT is due. Bring the invoice that shows the VAT you paid.

If necessary, the car will be temporarily admitted for 1 month. If this happens, you must hand in the "Official Declaration" form to any customs office.

The form is available at: Declaration in PDF - mof.gov.cy.

You file some documents together, such as your passport and the car's registration certificate (there is a complete list in the form).

Registering your car in Cyprus

To register your car in Cyprus, you must file certain documents with the Road Transport Department. The list is here: Vehicle Forms/Procedures - mcw.gov.cy.

This is a necessary procedure. After the car is cleared, it must be registered.

Bring your car from the UK to Cyprus

A car brought from the UK is an import from outside the EU. VAT is due, and so is import duty of 10% on a passenger car, except for a car that qualifies as UK or EU origin and comes with a statement on origin. Customs can grant relief from both on a transfer of residence.

The rules for bringing a car from third countries apply (see below).

UK rules on exporting a car

Check the UK government's general instructions for taking a vehicle abroad for 12 months or more (permanent export) at: Taking a vehicle out of the UK - gov.uk.

Under the UK's Personal Export Scheme, a UK resident leaving for at least six months can buy a car free of UK VAT and use it in the UK for the last six months before leaving: The Personal Export Scheme - gov.uk.

Ask Cyprus Customs whether relief on a transfer of residence is open for a car bought under that scheme before you buy it.

How to bring your car from a third country to Cyprus

To bring a car from outside the EU under relief, you:

• apply for relief from import duty and VAT on form Απ. 2 at any Customs District Office;
• drive the car for up to one month under form C.104O until the answer comes;
• once relief is granted, lodge an import customs declaration with form C.104O at any Customs District Office;
• register the car with the Road Transport Department before it can be licensed.

The conditions are:

• Relief covers one car per person holding a valid driving licence.
• You must have had the car in your possession and used it for at least six months.
• You must have lived outside the EU for a continuous 12 months.
• The car has to be cleared into free circulation no earlier than six months before and no later than 12 months after you transfer your residence.

If the car arrives before you do, you undertake to move within six months and give a security, whose kind and amount the Director of Customs sets. For 12 months after customs clearance you may not lend, pledge, hire out or transfer the car. Any of these within the 12 months needs the approval of the Director of Customs and makes the import duty and VAT payable.

The Road Transport Department can set extra conditions for used cars from outside the EU, so check with it before you ship. If Customs refuses relief, you pay the import duty and VAT, place the car in a customs warehouse, send it to another EU country or export it.

Healthcare and GeSY

GeSY, the General Healthcare System, gives free or low-cost care to residents who fall into one of its beneficiary categories. A non-EU retiree is covered with a permanent residence permit, such as Category F, or as the family member of a beneficiary. A Pink Slip on its own gives no access, so a Pink Slip holder needs private health insurance.

S1 form and GeSY contribution for pensioners

If you receive a UK State Pension, you may be entitled to an S1 form from NHS Overseas Healthcare Services. You register it with GeSY, and you and your dependants are then covered on the same basis as an insured Cypriot.

You can apply for the S1 online up to 90 days before you move. A pensioner insured in another EU country registers in the same way with that country's S1.

Once you are tax resident in Cyprus, your pension carries a GeSY contribution of 2.65%, a pension from abroad included. Paying the contribution does not by itself make you a beneficiary.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you are registered with GeSY as a worker or a permanent resident, you may be entitled to a Cypriot European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for visits to other EU countries. S1 holders receive a UK-issued GHIC for travel instead.

The application form (PDF) is here: Application for the EHIC.

Explanation from Your Europe on the working of the card is here:

Cyprus - European Health Insurance Card - europa.eu.

How to buy property in Cyprus

To buy real estate in Cyprus, an EU citizen will need the same formalities as a Cyprus citizen.

EU citizens are not restricted from buying real estate. You are recommended to contact a Cyprus property lawyer and a real estate agent. They will find the most suitable property, prepare your contract, and do the paperwork and filing.

Permission for third-country nationals

Third-country nationals, UK citizens included since Brexit, need permission to buy real estate in Cyprus.

The power sits with the Council of Ministers under Cap. 109, and in practice the District Administration of the district where the property is deals with the application. No fee is charged, and it takes two to three weeks.

The permission covers one plot for a home, or up to two units. Our guide on buying property in Cyprus as a foreigner covers each step.

The application form is Form Comm. 145, available at: Form Comm. 145 PDF (copy of the Ministry of Interior form).

Retiring to Cyprus after Brexit

Life in Cyprus has its draws for British retirees: a large British community, fresh local food, mild weather and the sea.

Since 1 January 2021, a UK national moving to Cyprus is a third-country national and needs a residence permit to stay longer than 90 days in any 180-day period. If you lived in Cyprus legally before that date, you keep your rights under the Withdrawal Agreement and can exchange your old MEU residence document for the biometric MUKW residence card.

Our guide to moving to Cyprus from the UK after Brexit covers work permits and moving a business from the UK.

As a third-country national, you can no longer vote in local elections.

UK pension and healthcare in Cyprus

You can still receive your UK pension in Cyprus. GOV.UK explains how to claim UK benefits abroad.

A residence permit does not by itself give you GeSY. UK State Pension recipients may be covered through an S1 form, as explained under Healthcare and GeSY.

The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which replaced the UK EHIC, is for visits. You cannot use it in Cyprus once you live here, but S1 holders receive a UK-issued GHIC for travel. Read the details and find the link to apply through the NHS at: Get healthcare cover abroad with a UK GHIC or UK EHIC - gov.uk.

Hobbies and lifestyle in Cyprus

Retirement leaves a lot of free time, and planning how you will spend it matters as much as planning the money and the move.

In Cyprus you can keep up your hobbies all year or take up new ones. The sea and the countryside are close by for walking and swimming.

Your municipality can tell you about local clubs and organisations, gyms, dance schools, yoga and art classes, and language courses.